Girls Night Movie Review: Elsewhere

January 24, 2020

A Feminist Take on Love, Loss & Finding Home

If you are yearning for a heartwarming movie that offers sweet epiphanies and a fresh take on worn out romantic comedy tropes, then “Elsewhere” just might be the perfect show for your next girls night out or girls night in.

Hitting theaters and available On Demand everywhere (as of January 24, 2020), “Elsewhere” tells the story of Bruno ( Aden Young ) who is grieving the loss of his wife Lydia. Now two years after Lydia’s death, everyone around him, including his parents (Beau Bridges and Jackie Weaver) and best friend (Ken Jeong), are ready for him to buck up an move on. But, Bruno can’t let go, and is thrown into turmoil when his in-laws reclaim the house he built with his wife.

Evicted and forced to live with his parents, Bruno continues to secretly take care of the house until the day he finds that new owner, Marie (Parker Posey), has moved in. Desperate to keep his connection with his former home, he poses as a contractor and offers to help Marie update the house. As the two work side-by-side making updates room-by-room it’s not just the house that gets fixed and begins to change…

While Elsewhere is predictable in many ways, what struck me as wonderfully surprising about this sometimes funny and sometimes sad movie is its new take on old characters and situations you’ve seen in the romantic comedies and dramedies that have come before.

This surprisingly female-forward flick doesn’t take it easy on its sulky protagonist. Even without watching the movie, you know him…you’ve seen him a million times before. He can’t see past his own pain long enough to acknowledge or pay respect to those who are supporting him and reaching out to him. While other movies try to convince viewers to feel sorry for him and forgive his douchebaggery, “Elsewhere” holds him accountable, as do the female characters affected by is actions.

From the woman he treats poorly on a date set up by his mother to Marie, who falls victim to his selfish actions, all of the women in this film are given the dignity and respect they deserve. Their characters aren’t reduced to a shallow take on worn out female stereotypes (think the scorned and desperate divorcee). Each is thoughtfully developed and empowered with some amount of depth and a surprising amount of strength.

The true beauty of this film is having the opportunity to watch what happens when men are given boundaries and held accountable by the women who care for them as friends, lovers, and family.

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Annette is a writer, editor and photographer from Portland, OR. Her work appears in a variety of publications including Bust, Red Tricycle, Motherly and Domino. When she’s away from her desk she can be found teaching women yoga at wilderness retreats, exploring new cities across the states and hiking the trails at Mt. Rainier—one of her favorite places on earth.